Dr. Emanuel Abraham, Former Chief Of Staff At Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Dies At 93

Courtesy of Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapel:

Emanuel Abraham, age 93, passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Bayonne, and raised in Kearny, where he grew up working in his family business, Morris Hardware, until he left for Auburn University and Vanderbilt Medical School, from which he graduated in 1945. After graduating from medical school, he completed his internship and residency at Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, followed by a pathology and medical residency at the VA Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.

He served as a doctor in the army during World War II and the Air Force during the Korean War, and was certified in internal medicine in 1951, and again in 1977 by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Abraham had a private practice on Grand Avenue in Asbury Park from 1955 to 1975, when he moved the practice to Neptune where he practiced until 1986.

He had the honor of serving Jersey Shore Medical Center as Director of Medicine from 1968 through 1974, Chief of Staff from 1979 to 1981, Director of Ambulatory Care from 1982-1993, and Honorary Director in 1992. He worked hard to maintain the quality of care and affordability of the practice of medicine through dedicated service with countless organizations.

He served as President of both the NJ Society of Internal Medicine and NJ Foundation for Medical Care Evaluation, was a national trustee and secretary -treasurer of the American Society of Internal Medicine, and was on the Board of Governors of the Medical Inter-Insurance Exchange of NJ, as well as being active for many years in the American Heart Association , NJ Medical Society, and Monmouth County Heart Association , of which he was a Past President.

He authored and published numerous articles in Medical Society Journals and The Internist over the years. He was an active member of his community in other ways; he was a Past President of Shore Lodge B’nai Brith, served on the Advisory Board of the Anti-Defamation League, and was a founding member, member of the Board of Trustees, and active participant of Temple Beth Torah (now Torat-El).

He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed photography, and remained a voracious reader throughout his life. He was devoted to his wife, Helen Sue (Schwartz), whom he met while at Vanderbilt and was married to for 64 years until she predeceased him last year. With Helen Sue, he enjoyed golf and bridge, traveling, book groups, taking college classes, attending theater, and music performances, but most of all they were devoted to their four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. In addition to his beloved Helen Sue, he was predeceased by his parents, Rose and Morris, and his brothers, Albert and Saul.

He is survived by his four children, Lynn, Susan (Lou), Mark (Sandy), and Lee (Laurye); nine grandchildren, Rachel, Judah, Daniel, Eliza, Dylan, Isy, Sophia, Tyler and Rebecca; and one great-grandchild, Tristan.

Donations in his memory should be made to Temple Torat-El, Monmouth County Heart Association , or the Southern Poverty Law Center. Funeral services will be held at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapel, Ocean, NJ at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31. The family will receive visitors Tuesday and Wednesday at 787 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, NJ.